Axle-stretching machine.



' S. F. BORKEY.

AXLE STRETCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man FEB. 2a. 1913 RENEWED FEB. 20. m9.

1 ,299,292. Patented Apr. 1, 191 9.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

s51, WW 4mm k/wmm S.F.BORKEY.

AXLE STRETCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28.1919 RENEWED FEB-20.1919.

1,299,292. Patented Apr. 1,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

5151, WWW IWF/VW attmmeqg s n r. roam, or an, nrenreert.

15:: i TCEING MAG- I 71 11,299,292. Patented Apr. a, rare. .dllcaflon filed Feb 28, 191$, Serial No. 219,580. Renewed webruaryfid, 1919. Eerial We. 27%,232'- Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be' it known-that I, STEPHEN F. Bonner, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Flint, in the county of. Genesee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Axle- Stretching Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to the manufacture of vehicle axles and more particularly to w front axles or constructions designed for the mounting of steering-wheel spindles at opposite ends thereof. Such axles are usually forined by a process in which the opposite ends are successively refashioned by drop-forging. It is important that the axle should be of exact length, but it is difficult to secure such accuracy where the fashioning of the ends is in successive operations. I have therefore devised an apparatus for securing absolute uniformity in length as hereinafter set forth and described. Another feature of the invention is the means for re-fashioning the spring pads of the axle simultaneously with the operation for securing accuracy in length.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine for operating uponthe axle;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof partly in section;

the central beam portion shorter than in the finished product. My improved apparatus stretches the central portion of the structure thus formed so that the fashioned end portions are brought into exact relative positions. I

In forging the bifurcated end portions of the axle, the spring pads are simultaneously fashioned, but for convenience they are A is the bed of a press which has mounted thereon the shaft B carrying the cranks C connected by pitman-rods-D with a sliding cross-head E. F is a work holder-extendmg transversely of the bed and bearing against an abutment G thereon which is opposed to the movement of the sliding head E. This work-holder includes a stationary, transversely-extending guide and a pair of clamping heads H slidable upon said guide and engageable with the axle. As specifically shown, these clamping heads have upperand lower die-members l and J for embracing the beam adjacent to the pads, a clamping-lever K having a cam L for bearing on the upper die and a hinged or pivoted member M for said lever and cam rockable to a position permitting the engagement and disengagementof the. work, and in operating position connectedto the lower die-member by a link N. The arrangement is such that the axle may be disengaged from the upper and lower diemembers I and J when the lever K is in the position K, Fig. 2,'and by then rocking said lever and mounting M to the position shown at K the link L may be engaged with a pin L, coupling the same to the lower diemember. The lever K may then be rocked upon its mounting M soas to cause the cam L to clamp the upper die-member I upon the work.

Each of the clamping heads H is preferably provided with an anti-friction roll O, which is in the path of a cam member P carried by the sliding head E. This cam member P has a tapering end portion P for passing between the rolls Q and for then forcing them'in opposite directions, thereby eflecting a sliding movement of the heads H. As

these heads when clamped to the roll are adjacent to the spring-pads C and C, the latter will act as stops or shoulders, and therefore as soon as these shoulders contact with the heads I-I any further movement of sald heads must necessaril stretch the axle.

The cam P is pre erably bifurcated, the furcations thereof passing above and below the axle and engaging with pairs of rolls 0 so as to exert a stretching force symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the axle. On opposite sides of the cams P are forming dies Q which contact with the pads C and C simultaneously with or immediately succeeding the stretching operation. These forming dies, as shown are of a shape to re-fashion the axle pads, imparting thereto the desired tilt and concavity.

In operation, the axles which have been first formed of variable length between the opposite end portions'thereot are brought to size by heating to the proper temperature and then placing in the machine, as has been described. When motion is imparted to the cross-head through the medium of the pitmen D and crank C the bifur-* cated cams P will first engage the rolls 0 and force the clamping heads II upon the transverse guide Fin opposite directions.

These clam-ping heads will slide upon the tween the bifurcated ends; also the pads will be re-fashioned to the proper contour.

What I. claim as my invention is:

l. An'axle-stretching machine, comprising a bed, work-engaging members, one of said members being movable transversely of said bed, and means movable longitudinally of said bed for actuating saidmovable member away from said other member to efiect the stretching of the portion of work therebetween. 4

2. An axle-stretching machine, comprising a bed, work-enga clamps transversely movable ofsaid b E-ahead movable longitudinally of said bed, and means carried by said head for spreading said clamps in QPP Site directions to stretch the portion of the axle therebetween.

3. An axle-stretching machine, comprising.a bed,- a guide extending transversely thereof, work-engaging clamps slidable upon said uide, a movable head, and means carried said clamps in opposite directions to effect the stretching of the portion of the worlrtherebetween.

4:- An axle-stretching machine, comprising a bed, a stationary guide extending transversely thereof, heads slidable upon said guide, work-clamps upon said heads for engaging the fashioned end portions of the work, a head movable longitudinally of the bed, and a cam on said head for engaging said sliding heads to spread the same and to stretch the portion of the axle therebetween.

5. In an axle-stretching machine, the combination with a bed, of a guide extending transversely thereof, heads slidable upon said guide, clamps on said heads for engaging the work, including a portion for engaging the axle-pads, a head slidable longitudinally of said bed, means carried by said head for engaging said transverselyslidable heads and spreading the same, and

dies also mounted on said lon 'tudinallymovable head for engaging sai axle-pads and refashioning the same.

6. In an axle-stretching machine, the com.- bination with a bed, of heads movable transversely thereof, clamps on said headsfor engagin the work, rolls upon said heads, a head slldable longitudinally of said bed, and a bifurcated cam member upon said last mentioned'head for engaging said rolls to spread said transversely movable heads in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

STEPHEN F. BORKEY.

y said movable head for spreading 

